Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama speaks to a crowd of people in Wingfield Park in downtown Reno, Nev. on Thursday afternoon May 31, 2007. / Andy Barron/Reno Gazette-Journal

Written by

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told a raucous and partisan Reno crowd Thursday that it's time for America to "turn the page" on what he called failed Bush administration policies and to restore the country's respect at home and abroad.

The 45-year-old first-term senator from Illinois made his first Northern Nevada campaign appearance before a crowd of about 4,000 at Wingfield Park in downtown Reno.

"America wants a new message," said Obama, whose half-hour speech began a few minutes after 1 p.m. "America wants a new spirit. America wants to turn the page out of selfish politics, out of small politics. ... They want a government that reflects the core decency of the American people. ... You know we can do better than we're doing now."

Wearing a white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves and no tie, Obama spoke in broad terms on a number of topics including the war in Iraq, education, veterans care and his recently introduced universal health care plan.

"We shouldn't have 45 million uninsured," he said. "We shouldn't have children having to go to emergency rooms for treatable illnesses like asthma.

"That's why, this week, I said by the end of my first term as president, every single American will have available to them health care that is affordable, health care that can make sure that they are not worried about bankruptcy and they aren't worried about their kids getting sick," he said. "And we can do it without breaking the bank."

Obama said his health-care plan includes rolling back Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans.

Republicans said Obama's proposal is ill-conceived and mirrors already-failed plans previously pushed by U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

"No late-arriving, knock-off health care plan can conceal the fact that Barack Obama is considered an inexperienced rookie by both Democrats and Republican's alike," Republican National Committee spokesperson Camille Anderson said in a news release.

Obama said one of his first acts as president would be to end the war in Iraq and bring American troops home.

"You can take that to the bank," he said.

Obama said he was proud of his vote in opposition to the war and said Bush's policies have done nothing to make America more secure from terrorists.

"The war in Iraq has never been better for al-Qaida," he said. "They're gaining strength."

Obama called Bush's foreign policy "a wreck." He said the U.S. must help stop the genocide taking place in Darfur and get rid of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

He said the rest of the world expects America to set a standard for human rights.

"I want to stand before the world and say, America is back," he said.

Obama, who has made two other Nevada appearances, both in Las Vegas, declined to criticize any of his Democratic opponents.

"We've got a terrific slate of candidates," he said. "I like to say, we're all on the same football team and we're all trying out for quarterback."

He said the Nevada caucuses will help define the national race.

"We are going to be competing actively and vigorously," he said.

Obama spent the morning in Carson City, where he met with about 50 voters at Comma Coffee before going across the street to speak with legislators.

He arrived in Reno about 1 p.m. and found a welcoming audience. A long line of people stretched along Arlington Avenue before gates opened and the crowd covered much of the island at Wingfield Park, most spectators standing for more than an hour in the 90-degree weather before Obama's speech began.

"It's really encouraging to see him here," said Connie Douglas of Spanish Springs. "I think he offers a fresh voice, which we need."